Pipe wrapping machine



July 2, 1940. H. KRAMER PIPE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed May 7, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 h Cum-hwy:

ATTORNEY 7 July- 2, 1940. H. KRAMER PIPE WRAPPING MACHINE I 3 Sheets-Shet 2 INYENTOR fiisvPMA/v fife/1445a Filed May 7, 1938 QM ATTORNEY A BY July 2, 1940. KRAMER 2,206,670

PIPE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed May 7, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 Uliu; .L| I

WET-T a .7 INVENTOR 3 l'fF/QMA/V flfFA p M if Q ATTORNEY .Patentcd July'Z, 1940 l (IN/[TED STATES PIPE WRAPPING momma Herman Kramer, Tulsa, Okla, assignor to The Ruberoid 00., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 7, 1938, Serial No. 206,550

, 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a pipe wrapping machine, and more particularly to apparatus for winding sheet material helically around a stationary pipe.

The machine is especially adapted for applying, in situ. a protective wrapping around pipes such as are used in oil or gas transmission pipe lines, although it may be used for other purposes.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a manually operable machine in which the angular setting of the roll of wrapping material governs the extent of the lap and the,pitch of the forward movement.

Other objects are to provide amachine that is light in weight; that can be conveniently transported and handled, consisting of few parts which may be readily set up in the field as required to wind pipes; and that can be easily operated manually by a single operator.

Further objects and advantages of the machine will appear more fully from the following description thereof, reference being hadto the ac- :ompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a'top plan view of the wrapping nachine in position on a pipe;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Pig. 2, the direction of rotation of the machine icing indicated by the dotted line position;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the machine, looking mm the right hand side of Figure 1;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the roll of wrapping material and the tensioning device, looking in he direction of the arrow 5 in Figure 1;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the parts shown in lg. 5, viewed in the direction of the arrow 6; and

Fig. 7 is a detail view showing a manner of adusting the angularity of the subsidiary frame.

The main frame structure of the machine conists of two parts, namely: an upper and alower art, indicated generally by the reference charcters l and II, respectively. In setting up the lachinc, the upper frame part III is placed upon ie pipe l2, and the lower part II is moved into osition to embrace the pipe, whereupon the two arts are detachably secured together as by means .'the pins or bolts I3; V

The upper. frame part I 0 comprises two parallel ngitudinal members "-44 connected at their at ends by a cross-piece l having downwardly rojecting flanges IS. The forward portion of re of the members I4 is bentout of line as lOWIl. A subsidiary frame IT, for supporting i9 roll l8 of wrapping material, extends at an 1316: across the forward end of the main-frame roll of wrapping material. The

' 39, fastened to the or part l0, as best seen in Figure 1. frame comprises two parallel l9-l9, and end members 20. The angular setting of the subsidiary frame may be varied to regulate the pitch and the lap of the winding of wrapping material. One means of effecting such adjustment is shown in Fig. '7, wherein the subsidiary frame I1 is pivotally mounted onthe main frame part ID by means of a bolt 2! and is fastened in adjusted position by passing the bolt 10 22 selectively through one of the holes 23. Mounted on the side members I 9 are upright members 24 having vertical slots 25 for the reception of the spindle or rod-26that carries the frame part Ill may be provided with a handle bar 21 for convenience in handling.

' The lower frame part II, best seen in Figs. 3 and 4, consists of a substantially U-shaped structure comprising horizontal members 28 and vertical members 29, connected by angle. members 30. Triangular blocks 3|, preferably wooden blocks, are fastened in two lower corners of the frame part II for the purpose hereinafter de- The subsidiary side members scribed.

The roll I8 of paper, felt, or like wrapping material is supported on the spindle 26. Two cones. 32 are slipped over the spindle and enter into the ends of the core of the roll l8. The roll with the spindle in place is inserted between the upright members 24, with the ends of the spindle riding in and extending outwardly beyond the slots 25. The members 24 bear'on the sides of the roll l8 and prevent it from shifting or coning during unwinding. 36

Means are provided for pressing the roll l8 down against the pipe with the proper tension required as the wrapping material is being unwound. These means, in the particular embodiment shown, comprise a pair of slightly curved spring arms 33-33, pivotally connected at their rear ends to a cross rod 34 supported on one end of the subsidiary frame I! and connected at their forward ends by the handle bar. 35. 36 is a crosspiece secured to the spring arms and having an opening through which the toothed rack. 31 extends. The lower end of therack, as seen in Fig. 5, is pivotally secured at 38 to the forward end of the subsidiary frame IT. .A leaf spring -piece 36, bears against the back of the rack 31 and causes engagement of the teeth with an edge of the opening. It will be noted that the spring arms 33 pass over the projecting ends of the spindle 26. As the material is being unwound from the roll [8, the at spring arms are moved gradually downward to supply the required tension. This is continued until all or substantially all of the material f wound on the roll has been used. When afresh roll is inserted, the spring arms are disconnected members of the subsidiary frame H and bearing with light pressure on the pipe l2. In operation, the pipe may be temporarily supported on blocks or horses above or adjacent to the trench in which it is to be laid, and the machine is set up in position won the pipe. In setting up the machine, all that is necessary is to couple together the two parts of the main frame, and to insert a roll of wrapping material in the subsidiary frame. The operator, standing in position at the front end of the machine, turns the frame together with the roll of wrapping material bodily around the pipe by means of the handle levers Ml. The roll of wrapping material bears on the pipe and the angularity of its setting causes the machine to move forwardly along the pipe as the frame is rotated, thus unwinding the material from the roll and winding it helically around the pipe with the proper overlap, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2." The wrapping material generally consists of a web of saturated felt. As the material is unwound onto the pipe,

the tension on the roll is adjusted by mean'sof a take-up device which, in the present instance, comprises the rack 31. I have found that only very little tension on the roll or a slight frictional drag on the material is necessary, to effect a tight and uniform wrap. During the travel of the frame, the smoother blocks 3i bear on the wrapping material and serve to smooth the winding, to press down and seal the lap, as well as to .center the frame on the pipe. The blocks :are held firmly in contact with the wrapping material by means of the tensioning device and the spring 4!. The pipe is coated with a bituminous composition before the wrapping material is applied thereto; and, if desired, an outer coating of similar substance may be applied after the pipe has been wrapped.

It will be noted that the roll l8 of wrapping material is mounted on the frame with its axis extending at an angle to the axis of the pipe.

This angular relationship governs the pitch of the forward movement of the machine and causes the wrapping material to be wrapped around the pipe with a uniform lap. Both the pitch and the lap may be regulated by varying the angular setting of the roll of wrapping material.

- Various modifications in the details of construction illustrated and described may be resorted to without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A pipe wrapping machine comprising a frame mountable upon and rotatable about a pipe tobe wrapped, a roll of wrapping material mounted upon and bodily rotatable with the frame, said roll bearing on the pipe and having its axis set at an angle to the axis of the pipe, and means mounted on the frame to ride over and smooth the wrapping material after it has been wound around the pipe.

2. A pipe wrapping machine comprising a frame mountable upon and rotatable about a pipe to be wrapped, a roll of wrapping material mounted upon and bodily rotatable with the frame, said roll bearing on the pipe and having its axis set at an angle to the axis of the pipe, and smoother blocks immovably mounted on the frame to ride over and smooth thewrapping material after it has been wound around the pipe.

3. A pipe wrapping machine comprising aframe mountable upon and rotatable abouta pipe to be wrapped, a roll of wrapping material mounted upon and bodily rotatable with the frame, said roll bearing on the pipe and having ill! its axis set at an angle to the axis of the pipe,

means mounted on the frame to ride over'and smooth the wrapping material after it has been wound around the pipe, and tensioning means acting on the roll to maintain it in contact with the pipe as the diameter of the roll decreases.

4. In a pipe wrapping machine, a frame adapted to be mounted on and rotated about a pipe to bewrapped, supports on the frame for supporting. a roll of wrapping material withits axis extending at an angle to the axis of the pipe, tensioning means acting on the roll to press it against the pipe, and a take-up device for regulating the tension on the roll as the wrapping material is unwound therefrom.

HERMAN KRAIVIER. 

